File:Possible brooch (FindID 102400).jpg

English: An incomplete late early medieval copper-alloy trefoil brooch, with the terminal of one arm missing due to an old break. It measures 38mm by 28mm and is worn, each arm is c12mm in width.

It is flat and the front face has simple decoration with a central triangle delimited by border grooves, each arm is roughly rectangular in shape with a rounded terminal and has two parallel border grooves. Within these there is a worn foliate design depicting what appears to be a single leaf with jagged V-shaped notches along its edges.

On the reverse there is a probable catch plate, which is set near the edge of the object between the two complete arms. It is U-shaped and appears to have a corroded but open side where a pin could have been sloted into it. Opposite this probable catch-plate near the terminal of the incomplete arm is a fragment of corroded iron which could be the remains or scar of another missing lug, possibly pin lug or chain-loop. No other scars can be seen but the back face which is worn and rough to the touch. However, it is unclear if this is as they were never there, hence making it more likely that this object is a harness fitting or even a pendant, or because they have dissappeared due to wear.

Trefoil brooch fragments are known from both Norfolk and Suffolk with stylised leaf decoration, sometimes cast. A complete example has been found in Wymondham, Norfolk (see NMS-10A1E1), another Suffolk example from Long Melford is also known (see SF-C7C9B1). This example may have Scandinavian origins and is most likely to be circa 9th century in date.

Jane Kershaw has confirmed this as a Scandinavian type - Trefoil brooch, Maixner Type G 1.3, group A